Medicina practica, or, Practical physick shewing the method of curing the most usual diseases happening to humane bodies ... : to which is added, the philosophick works of Hermes Trismegistus, Kalid Persicus, Geber Arabs, Artesius Longævus, Nicholas Flammel, Roger Bachon and George Ripley : all translated out of the best Latin editions into English ... : together with a singular comment upon the first book of Hermes, the most ancient of philosophers : the whole compleated in three books / by William Salmon ...

CHAP. LXXIII. Ripley's Philosophical Axioms out of the Thea∣trum Chymicum.

I. OUr Stone is called the Microcosm; One and Three; Magnesia and Sulphur and Mercury, all pro∣portioned by Nature her self. Now understand that that there are three Mercu∣ries, which being the Key of the whole Science, Ray∣mundus calls his Menstru∣ums, without which, no∣thing is to be done in this Art: but the Essential Mer∣cury of the Bodies is the chief material of our Stone.

II. Our Stone is a Soul and a substance, by which the Earth does receive its splendor: what other thing is Sol or Luna, than a Terra Munda, a pure Earth, Red and White? The whole Composition we call Our Plumbum or Lead, the Qua∣lity of whose splendor pro∣ceeds from Sol and Luna.

III. No impure Body, one excepted, which the Philosophers vulgarly call the Green Lyon, (which is the Medium which Con∣joyns the Tinctures between

Sol and Luna with perfecti∣on) does Enter into our Ma∣gistry.

IV. These Menstruums you ought to know, without which no true Calcination, or natural dissolution can possibly be done. But our principal Menstruum may be said indeed to be Invi∣sible or Spiritual; yet by the help of our Aqua Philo∣sophica secunda, through a separation of the Elements, in form of clear water, it is brought to light, and made to appear.

V. And by this Menstru∣um with great Labour is made the Sulphur of Na∣ture, by Circulation in a pure Spirit; and with the same you may dissolve your Body after divers manners: and an Oyl may be extra∣cted therefrom, of a Golden Color, like as from Our Red Lead.

VI. 1. De Calcinatione. Calcination is the Purgati∣on of our Stone, restoring it to its own Natural Color, inducing first a necessary dissolution thereof, but nei∣ther with Corrosives, nor fire alone, nor A. F. nor with other Burning waters, or the Vapour of Lead, is our Stone Calcined; for by such Calcinations, Bodies are de∣stroyed, for that they dimi∣nish their humidities.

VII. Whereas in our Cal∣cination the Radical humi∣dity is Augmented or mul∣tiplied, for like increases like; he which knows not this knows nothing in this Art. Joyn like with like, and kind with kind, as you ought; every seed answers and re∣joyces in seed of its own kind: and every Spirit is fixed with a Calx of its own kind or Nature.

VIII. The Philosophers make an Unctuous Calx, both White and Red, of three Degrees, before it can be perfected, that shall melt as Wax, till which it is of no use. If your water shall be in a right or just propor∣tion with your Earth, and in a fit Heat, your Matter will Germinate, the White together with the Red,

which will endure in a per∣petual Fire.

IX. Make a Trinity of Unity, without dissention; this is the most certain and best proportion: and by how much the lesser part is the more spiritual, by so much the more easily will the dissolution be perform∣ed: drown not the Earth with too much water, lest you destroy the whole Work.

X. 2. De Dissolutione. Seek not that in a thing which is not in it, as in Eggs, Blood, Wine, Vitriol, and the o∣ther middle Minerals; there is no profit to be had in things not Metallick: In Metals, from Metals, and by or through Metals, Me∣tals are made perfect.

XI. First make a Rotati∣on of all the Elements; and before all things, convert the Earth into water by dis∣solution: Then Dissolve that Water into Air, and then make that Air into Fire: this done, reduce it again into Earth, for otherwise you labour in vain.

XII. Here is nothing be∣sides the Sister and the Bro∣ther; that is, the Agent and the Patient, Sulphur and Mercury, which are gene∣rated Co-essential substan∣ces. The dissolution of one part of the Corporeal Sub∣stance, causeth a Congela∣tion of another part of the spiritual.

XIII. Every Metal was once a Mineral Water, wherefore they may all be dissolved into Water again; in which Water are the four repugnant Qualities with di∣versity. In one Glass all things ought to be done, made in the form of an Egg, and well closed.

XIV. Let not your Glass be hotter than you can en∣dure your naked Hand up∣on, so long as your matter is in dissolution: When the Body is altered from its first form, it immediately puts on a new form.

XV. 3. De Dispositione. Beware that you open not your Glass, nor ever move

it, from the beginning of the work to the end there∣of; for then you will never bring your work to perfe∣ction. Dry the Earth till it becomes thirsty in Calcina∣tion, otherwise you Act in vain. Divide the matter into two parts, that you may separate the subtil from the gross, or thin from the thick, till the Earth remains in the bottom of a Livid Color.

XVI. One part is Spiri∣tual and Volatile; but they ought all to be converted to one matter or substance. And distil the Water, with which you would Vivifiethe Stone, till it be pure & thin as water, shinning with a Blew Livid Colour, retaining its Figure and Ponderosity: with this Water Hermes moistens or waters his Tree, whilst in his Glass, and makes the Flowers to in∣crease on high.

XVII. First divide that, which Nature first tyed to∣gether, converting the Es∣sential Mercury into Air, or a Vapour, without which natural and subtil separation, no future Generation can be compleated.

XVIII. Your Water ought to be seven times sublimed, otherwise there can never be any natural Dissolution made; nor shall you see any Putrefaction like Li∣quid Pitch; nor will the Colors appear, because of the defect of the Fire Ope∣rating in your Glass.

XIX. 4. De Ignibus. There are four kinds of Fires which you ought to know; the Natural, the Innatural, that contrary to Nature, and the Elemental, which burns Wood: These are the fires we use, and no others.

XX. The Fire of Nature is in every thing, and is the third Menstruum. The Innatural Fire is occasional∣ly so called, and it is the Fire of Ashes, of Sand, and Baths for putrefying: and without this no Putrefaction can be done.

XXI. The Fire against Nature, is that which tears

Bodies to pieces or Atoms; which is the fiery Dragon, violently burning like the fire of Hell. Make there∣fore that your fire within, in your Glass, which will burn the Bodies much more powerfully than the vulgar Elemental fire can do.

XXII. 5. De Conjunctione. Conjunction is the joyning together of things separated, and of differing Qualities; or the Adequation or bring∣ing to an equality of princi∣ples: he which knows not how to separate the Ele∣ments, and to divide them, and then to conjoyn them again, errs, not knowing the true way.

XXIII. Divide the Soul from the Body, and get that, for it is the Soul which causes the perpetual Con∣junction: the Male, which is our Sol, requires three parts; and the Female which is his Sister, nine parts; then like rejoyces with like for ever.

XXIV. Certainly Disso∣lution and Conjunction, are two strong principles of this Science, tho there may be many other principles be∣sides.

XXV. 6. De Putrefactione. The Destruction of the Bodies is such, that you are diligently to Conserve them in a Bath, or our Horse-Dung, viz. in a moist heat for ninty days Natural: but the Putrefaction is not com∣pleatly Absolved, and brought to whiteness, like the Eyes of Fishes, in less than 150 days; the blackness first appearing, is the Index or Sign, that the matter draws on to Putre∣faction.

XXVI. Being together Black like Liquid Pitch, in the same time, they swell and cause an Ebullition, with Colors like those of the Rainbow, of a most beau∣tiful aspect; and then the water begins to whiten the whole Mass.

XXVII. A temperate heat working in moist Bodies, brings forth blackness, which having obtained, there is

nothing that you need fear for in the same way, the Germination of our Stone does follow, and forthwith, to wit, in the space of thirty [or Forty] days, you have Gas, or Adrop, which is our Uzifer or Cinnabar, and our Red Lead.

XXVIII. Takeheed to defend your Glass from a Violent Heat, and a sudden Cold; make use of a mo∣derate Fire, and beware of Vitrification. Beware how you bind up your matter; mix it not with Salts, Sulphurs, nor the middle Minerals; let Sophisters prate what they will, Our Sulphur and our Mercury are found in Metals only.

XXIX. 7. De Coagulatione. Coagulation or Congelati∣on is the induration or hard∣ning of things, in Calore Can∣dido, and the fixing of the Volatile Spirit. The Ele∣ments are forthwith convert∣ed, but the Congelation is no way impeded, for those things which are Congeal∣ed in the Air, melt or soften not in the Water; for if so, Our work would be destroy∣ed, and come to nothing.

XXX. When the Com∣positum is brought to White∣ness, then the Spirit is Uni∣ted and Congealed with the Body; but it will be a good length of time before such a Congelation will appear in the likeness or Beauty of Pearls. The cause of all these things is the most tem∣perate heat, continually working and moving the Matter. Believe me also, that your whole Labour is lost, except you revivifie your Earth with the Water, without that you shall never see a true Congelation.

XXXI. This Water is a Secret drawn from the Life of all things existing in Na∣ture; for from Water all things in the World have their first beginning, as you may easily perceive in ma∣ny things. The substance or Matter is nourished with its proper Menstruum, which the Water and the Earth only produce, whose proper Colour is Greenness.

XXXII. Understand al∣so that our fiery Water thus acuated is called the Men∣strual Water, in which Our Earth is dissolved, and na∣turally Calcined by Conge lation; when you have made seven Imbibitions, then by a Circumvolution, putrifie again all the Matter without addition, beholding in the first place the blackness, then the Whiteness of the Con∣gealed Matters.

XXXIII. Thus your Wa∣ter is divided into two parts: with the first part, the Bodies are purified: the second part is reserved for Imbibitions; with which afterwards the Matter is made black, and presently after with a gentle fire, made White, then reduce to Redness.

XXXIV. 8. De Cibatione. Cibation, is the Feeding or Nourishing of our dry Mat∣ter with Milk and Meat, being both administred mo∣derately, till it is reduced to the third Order: you must never give so much as to cause a suffocation, or that the Aqueous humour should exceed the Blood: if it drinks too much, the work will be hurt.

XXXV. Three times must you turn about the Philo∣sophick Wheel, observing the Rule of the said Cibati∣on, and then in a little time it will feel the Fire, so as to melt presently like Wax.

XXXVI. 9. De Sublima∣tione. Sublime not the mat∣ter to the top of the Vessel, for without Violence, you cannot bring it down to the bottom again; by a tempe∣rate heat below, in the space of 40 days, it will become black and obscure. When the Bodies are purified, let them be sublimed by de∣grees more and more, till they shall be all elevated or converted into Water.

XXXVII. We use Subli∣mation for three Causes. First, that the Body may be made spiritual. Secondly, that the the Spirit may be made Corporeal aud fixed with it, and become Consubstan∣tial with it. Thirdly, that it may be purified from its Original Impurities; and its Sulphurous Salt may be

diminished, with which it is infected; subliming it to the Top, as White as Snow.

XXXVIII. 10. De Fer∣mentatione. Fermentations are made after divers man∣ners, by which our Medi cine is perpetuated. Some dissolve Sol and Luna into a certain clear Water; and with the Medicine of them, they make the same to Coagulate, or be Coagu∣lated, but such a Fermenta∣tion we propose not.

XXXIX. This only is our Intention, that first you must Break, or Tear, or Grind the matter to Atoms, before you Ferment it: Mix then presently your Water and Earth together; and when the Medicine shall flow like Wax, then see the above mentioned Amalga∣mation, and put forth the same; and when all that is mixed together, above or on the top of the Glass, (being well closed,) make a Fire, till the whole be Fluxed; then make projection as you shall think fit, because it is a Medicine wholly per∣fect: Thus have you made the Ferment both for the Red and the White.

XL. The true Fermenta∣tion is the Incorporation of the Soul with the Body, re∣storing to the same the Na∣tural Odour, Consistency, and Colour, by a Natural Inspissation of the separated things. And as the Magnet draws Iron to it self, so our Earth by Nature draws down its Soul to it self, Ele∣vated with Wind: For with∣out doubt, the Earth is the Ferment of the Water, and by Course or Turns, the Water is the Ferment of the Earth.

XLI. We make the Wa∣ter most Odoriferous, with which we reduce all the Bo∣dies into Oyl, with which Oyl we make our Medicine flow. We call this Water a Quintessence, or the Pow∣ers, and it Heals or Cures all humane Diseases. Make therefore this Oyl of Sol and Luna, which is a Ferment most fragrant in smell.

XLII. 11. De Exaltatione. Ex∣altation differs a little from Subli∣mation, if you understand aright the words of the Philosophers. If therefore you would Exalt your Bo∣dies, sublime them first with Spiritus Vitae; then let the Earth be subtilia∣ted by a Natural rectification of all the Elements; so shall it be more pretious than Gold, because of the Quintessence or Powers which they contain.

XLIII. When the Cold does over∣come the Heat, then the Air is con∣verted into water, & so two contra∣ries are made by the way, till they kindly conjoyn and rest together: after this manner you must work them, that they may be Circulated, that they (one with another) may speedily be Exalted together. In one Glass well Sealed, all this Operation is to be done, and not with hands.

XLIV. Convert the Water into Earth, which will quickly be the Nest of the other Elements; for the Earth is in the Fire, which rests in the Air. Begin this Circulation in the West, then continue it till past the Meridian, so will they be exalted.

XLV. 12. De Multiplicatione. Mul∣tiplication is the thing which makes the augmentation of the Medicine, in Color, Smell, Vertue, and Quan∣tity; for it is a Fire, which being Excited, never dies, but always dwells with you, one spark of which is able to make more Fire by the Virtue of Multiplication.

XLVI. He is rich which has but one Particle or Grain of this our Elixir, because that Grain is possi∣ble to be augmented (by one way) to Infinity: if you dissolve this our dry Pouder, and make a frequent Coagulation thereof, you will aug∣ment it, and so you may Multiply it, till it increases in your Glass, into the form of a Tree, and which Hermes calls a Tree, most Beauti∣ful in Aspect. Of which one Grain may be Multiplied to an hundred, if you know how wisely to make your Projection.

XLVII. Our Elixir, the more fine and subtle it is made, so much the more compleatly it tinges, and disperses its Tincture. Let your Fire be kept equally close, Evening and Morning; so much the longer you keep the Fire, so much the more profitable it will be; and Multiply more and more in your Glass, nourishing your Mercury in its enclosure, whereby, you will have a greater Treasure than you could desire.

XLVIII. 13. De Projectione. If your Tincture be true and not Va∣riable, you may prove it in a small quantity thereof, either in Metal or Mercury: It cleaves thereto as Pitch, and so Tinges in Projection, that it is able to endure the strong∣est Fire: But many through Igno∣rance destroy their work, by ma∣king Projection upon an impure Metal.

XLIX. See that you Project your Medicine upon your Ferment, so will that Ferment be Brittle as Glass: Project that Brittle Medicine upon pure Bodies, so have you Sil∣ver or Gold, enduring the severest Test.

L. Give not liberty to the Reins left you sin, but Religiously Fear and serve the Lord your God; think your self alway before the Tribu∣nal of the most high, the great Judge and Rewarder of Mankind, who will return to every Man ac∣cording to his works.

LI. 14. Recapitulatie. Take head

diligently to the Latitude of our Stone, and begin in the Occident, where the Sun sets, where the Red Man and White Wife are made one, conjoyned and Married by the Spi∣rit of Life, that they may live in Love and Quietness.

LII. The Earth and Water, are joyned in a fit proportion; one part of Earth or Body to three of Spirit, which is 4 to 12. and is a good proportion: you must take three parts of the Female to one of the Male: by how much less there shall be of the Spirit in this Dispen∣sation, Conjunction, or Marriage, by so much the sooner will the Calci∣nation be Absolved.

LIII. The Calcination perform∣ed, then you must dissolve the Bo∣dies, divide, and Putrefie them; and all the Secrets of our other lower Stars will have a perfect Coherence and understanding with the Poles of our Heaven, and will appear with inexplicable Colors of Light and Glory, Transcending in Lu∣sture and Beauty, all other things in the World, and all this before the perfect Whiteness.

LIV. And after the perfect Whiteness, you will have a Yellow, the false Citrion Colour: after∣wards the Blood Red, unchangable for ever, will be be manifest; so have you a Medicine of the third Order in its kind, which may con∣tinually be Multiplied. But this you must not in the least be Igno∣rant of, that the RED MAN does not Tinge, nor yet his WHITE WIFE, till they themselves are first Ting∣ed with our Tincture or Stone.

LV. When therefore you pre∣pare your Matter by this our Art; hide your Bodies all over, an I lay open their Profundiries or In-sides, destroy the first quality of all your Materials, and the more excellent second qualities, which in these you must separate; and in one Glass, and by one Government and Or∣der, convert the four Natures into one.

LVI. The Red Elixir must be divided into two parts, before it be Rubified, which put into two Glas∣ses; and if you would have a dou∣ble Elixir, one of Sol, and another of Luna, do thus:

LVII. With Mercury multiply presently theMedicine into a great quantity, if you have at first only so small a quantity as a Spoonful: then may you multiply them to∣gether into a White and Red Me∣dicine, which by Circulation you must convert into a perfect Oyl ac∣cording to our directions; and this Multiplication from your first small quantity may be continued, should you live a thousand Years. These Oyls will fix Crude Mercury into perfect Sol and Luna.

LVIII. This pure and fixed Olea∣ginous substance, Raymundus calls his Basillsk, whose Explication is so easie to be understood; that it needs no more Words.

LIX. For our Metals are nothing else, than our two Minerae, viz. those of Sol and Luna, as Raymundus wise∣ly Notes; The Splendor of Luna, and the Light of shining Sol. In these two Minerae, the Secret dwells; tho' the Splendor may for a while be hid from your Eyes, which by the help of Art, you may easily bring to light.

LX. This hidden Stone, this one thing, purifie it, wash it in its own Liquor, Water or Blood, till it grows White; then prudently Ferment it, so have you the Summ and Perfection of the whole Work.